I have a random question. Is there a single word that encompasses all the people that live in the UK that is widely used?

Reason I was thinking about that because the shorthand for those that live in the "United states of America" is to call us American, focusing on the last word in our name. But we don't call those in the UK Kingdomers (as far as I know). I was just curious.

From my experience, and a bit of checking on Wikipedia, British is the term used to cover all the UK, generally speaking. Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain, or on the island of Britain, but I would include Northern Irish people when I say British, because it's part of the UK. There are those who would disagree with its usage, though, sometimes quite emphatically. It's a bit of a tricky subject. Similarly, the term Irish can generally be used for people from either of the two nations that exist on the island of Ireland, from my experience.

If you know which of the four nations of the UK someone comes from, though, use that.

Calling an English, Welsh or Scottish person British is unlikely to offend, though they may inform you that they are English, Welsh or Scottish.

(Efcliz quoted me while I was editing this adding a bit)

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Last edited by Gulliver on Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:18 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:12 pm

Kitchens Planning Manchester

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:18 amPosts: 2622Location: England

I don't think there is. People use British but often incorrectly because of the Irish thing. There's a lot of amusement at the moment about how Andy Murray is Scottish when he loses and British when he wins, and it's true.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:13 pm

Kitchens Planning Manchester

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:18 amPosts: 2622Location: England

Gulliver wrote:

linanil wrote:

I have a random question. Is there a single word that encompasses all the people that live in the UK that is widely used?

Reason I was thinking about that because the shorthand for those that live in the "United states of America" is to call us American, focusing on the last word in our name. But we don't call those in the UK Kingdomers (as far as I know). I was just curious.

British is the term used to cover all the UK, generally speaking. Northern Ireland is not part of Great Britain, or on the island of Britain, but I include Northern Irish people when I say British. There are those who would disagree, though, sometimes quite emphatically. Similarly, the term Irish can be used for people from either of the two nations that exist on the island of Ireland.

If you know which of the four nations of the UK someone comes from, though, use that.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:17 pm

WRETCHED

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:54 pmPosts: 9205Location: Maryland/DC area

Efcliz wrote:

I don't think there is. People use British but often incorrectly because of the Irish thing. There's a lot of amusement at the moment about how Andy Murray is Scottish when he loses and British when he wins, and it's true.

I figured Ireland might be a different issue in terms of politics but I also figured that Scottish people weren't called British but again one reason I was wondering.

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Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:18 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6517Location: Boston, MA

From my teensy/sheltered American brain, I've heard it as English is for people from England, British for people from the UK, but better to specify the country as there's a lot of history and politics.

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Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:31 pm

Vegan Since Before There Were Vegetables

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I don't go anywhere near that topic. I've got yelled at for saying an irish movie was british once and since then I tried to figure it out, but I don't want to fork up and insult anyone so I just keep my mouth shut.

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Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:34 pm

Should Spend More Time Helping the Animals

Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:57 pmPosts: 6517Location: Boston, MA

Well my mind is blown.

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

I don't go anywhere near that topic. I've got yelled at for saying an irish movie was british once and since then I tried to figure it out, but I don't want to fork up and insult anyone so I just keep my mouth shut.

In high school, they tried to teach us that Ireland is part of the British Isles. Yeah, no.

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Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:53 pm

Invented Vegan Meringue

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I don't know if I've ever eaten coleslaw. When I was younger, I didn't like mayo or veg, so I don't think I would've ever intentionally eaten it. If I have eaten it, it was at least 20-25 years ago. But now I like (vegan) mayo and veg, so I'm gonna make some coleslaw this weekend. I hope I like it.

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Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:07 pm

Dying from Nooch Lung

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:30 pmPosts: 3320Location: Almost Boston

There are workers here putting a liner in the chimney. They turned the heat off and now they are knocking bricks out of the chimney or something... it's so loud and the whole house is shaking. I'm trying to figure out which part of the house will be the safest if the chimney collapses!

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:14 pm

WRETCHED

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:54 pmPosts: 9205Location: Maryland/DC area

rachell37 wrote:

I don't know if I've ever eaten coleslaw. When I was younger, I didn't like mayo or veg, so I don't think I would've ever intentionally eaten it. If I have eaten it, it was at least 20-25 years ago. But now I like (vegan) mayo and veg, so I'm gonna make some coleslaw this weekend. I hope I like it.

I like cashew based coleslaw, like Cool Slaw from Appetite for Reduction.

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Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:17 pm

Not a creepy cheese pocket person

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:17 pmPosts: 4185Location: Austin

linanil wrote:

I have a random question. Is there a single word that encompasses all the people that live in the UK that is widely used?

Reason I was thinking about that because the shorthand for those that live in the "United states of America" is to call us American, focusing on the last word in our name. But we don't call those in the UK Kingdomers (as far as I know). I was just curious.

Calling people from the United States American is actually really controversial in a lot of North and South America. To them, "American" refers to anyone from either continent, and it's part of U.S. arrogance that we've coopted the term.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:20 pm

WRETCHED

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:54 pmPosts: 9205Location: Maryland/DC area

mollyjade wrote:

linanil wrote:

I have a random question. Is there a single word that encompasses all the people that live in the UK that is widely used?

Reason I was thinking about that because the shorthand for those that live in the "United states of America" is to call us American, focusing on the last word in our name. But we don't call those in the UK Kingdomers (as far as I know). I was just curious.

Calling people from the United States American is actually really controversial in a lot of North and South America. To them, "American" refers to anyone from either continent, and it's part of U.S. arrogance that we've coopted the term.

I know that there are people that don't like it and really think of it as referring to ourselves as the Americans as if we are the important ones in North America or the Americas in general. I just don't know what other short name for "United states of American" that you would have other than American. Which is actually what started me on this thinking.

So technically everyone who lives in North/South America is American but if you refer to someone in the US specifically, you refer to them as an American. And I've never heard of American being used in any other way other than saying something is North American or South American.

_________________You are all a disgrace to vegans. Go f*ck yourselves, especially linanil.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:23 pm

Not a creepy cheese pocket person

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:17 pmPosts: 4185Location: Austin

Yeah, English doesn't really have a good alternative word. I work a lot with Latin American studies, and they're very conscientious about using "U.S. residents/citizens," but that's too awkward to ever catch on in everyday spoken language. National identity is complicated.

Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:24 pm

Drunk Dialed Ian MacKaye

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I'm sick, my kids are sick, my partner is sick (and working anyway!) - bleh! Therefore, we're all sitting around at home (except my partner!) being incredibly lazy and tired and gross-feeling, when I actually need to be getting laundry and dishes and baby-proofing done. Why is being sick so annoying?!

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Post subject: Re: Space to post things that do not go with any other topic

Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:45 pm

WRETCHED

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:54 pmPosts: 9205Location: Maryland/DC area

mollyjade wrote:

Yeah, English doesn't really have a good alternative word. I work a lot with Latin American studies, and they're very conscientious about using "U.S. residents/citizens," but that's too awkward to ever catch on in everyday spoken language. National identity is complicated.

That is interesting, my spanish is more of the spanglish variety but I only remember 'norte americano' used or saying you are from 'estados unidos' but I don't know if there is a good word in spanish for someone from USA.

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